Lighting module

ABSTRACT

A lighting module is adapted to an electronic device. The electronic device includes a light transmitting portion. The lighting module comprises a light source and a microstructure. The light source is disposed in the electronic device, and the light source includes a light emitting surface facing the light transmitting portion. The microstructure is disposed between the light emitting surface of the light source and the light transmitting portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of China application serialNo. 201210581386.0, filed on Dec. 27, 2012. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a lighting module and, more particularly, to alighting module which can enhance the uniformity of the light.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of the lighting technologies, lighting modules havebeen gradually applied to many electronic products and lighting lamps,such as keyboards, notebook computers, mobile phones and monitors. Ifthe lighting module is disposed in the keyboard, the illuminant keyboardcan be used in a dark environment, and users can recognize the symbolson the keys in the weak light, and a decorative effect is also better.

Conventionally, lighting modules are only set on one side or both sidesof the light-emitting keyboard and the keys on the keyboard havedifferent brightness due to different distances between keys and thelight modules. A light source also may be set under each key of thelight-emitting keyboard, so that the brightness of the keys oflight-emitting keyboard is more uniform. However, since the keys on thekeyboard have different sizes and the position of the light sourcesunder the keycap also may be different, the intensity of the lightemitted through each key may be different, which affects the visualeffect.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A lighting module is provided, and it can enhance the uniformity of thelight.

A lighting module adapted to an electronic device is disclosed. Theelectronic device includes a light transmitting portion. The lightingmodule comprises a light source and a microstructure. The light sourceis disposed in the electronic device, and the light source includes alight emitting surface facing the light transmitting portion. Themicrostructure is disposed between the light emitting surface of thelight source and the light transmitting portion.

In summary, in order to make the light from the light emitting surfaceof the light source pass the microstructure first and then pass throughthe light transmitting portion, the microstructure is disposed betweenthe light emitting surface of the light source and the lighttransmitting portion (for example, the microstructure is formed on thelight emitting surface of the light source or at the bottom of the lighttransmitting portion). Consequently, the light is scattered by themicrostructure and the uniformity of the light is enhanced. The lightingmodule can be applied to the keys of the light-emitting keyboard to makethe keys with different sizes have similar brightness. In addition, thelighting module can also be used in indicators of common electronicdevices.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with regard to the following description, appended claims,and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a lighting module applied to anelectronic device in an embodiment;

FIG. 2A to FIG. 2G are schematic diagrams showing the process formanufacturing microstructures of the lighting module in an embodiment;

FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D are schematic diagrams showing the process formanufacturing microstructures of the lighting module in anotherembodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a lighting module applied to anelectronic device in another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a lighting module applied to anelectronic device in an embodiment. Please refer to FIG. 1. The lightingmodule 100 is applied to an electronic device 10. The electronic device10 is a light-emitting keyboard. The lighting module 100 is disposedunder every key of the light-emitting keyboard, and the electronicdevice 10 is not limited to a light-emitting keyboard. In FIG. 1, onlyone key is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 10 includes a baseplate 11, acircuit board 12, a keycap 13, an elastomer 14 and a support structure15. The circuit board 12 is disposed on the baseplate 11, and thecircuit board 12 includes a press part 12 a.

The keycap 13 is disposed on the circuit board 12. The keycap 13includes a light transmitting portion 13 a. The character presented onthe light transmitting portion 13 a is corresponding to the characterrepresented by the keycap 13, such as a numeral, a letter or a function.

The elastomer 14 is disposed between the circuit board 12 and the keycap13. In detail, the elastomer 14 is disposed at the bottom of the keycap13 corresponding to the press part 12 a. When the keycap 13 is pressed,the elastomer 14 deforms and presses the press part 12 a of the circuitboard 12 to trigger the key.

The support structure 15 is connected to the keycap 13 and the baseplate11 to make the keycap 13 movably fixed to the baseplate 11. The supportstructure 15 includes a first support 15 a and a second support 15 bwhich are crossed and pivotally connected. When the keycap 13 movesrelatively to the baseplate, the first support 15 a and the secondsupport 15 b make the keycap 13 move up and down smoothly.

The lighting module 100 includes a light source 110 and a microstructure120. The light source 110 is a Light Emitting Diode, which is notlimited herein. The light source 110 is electrically connected to thecircuit board 12, and is disposed between the circuit board 12 and thekeycap 13. The light source 110 includes a light emitting surface 112facing the light transmitting portion 13 a. The microstructure 120 isdisposed between the light emitting surface 112 of the light source 110and the light transmitting portion 13 a. The microstructure 120 isdisposed on the light emitting surface 112 of the light source 110,which is not limited herein.

Since the microstructure 120 is made of a light-transparent material,the light from the light emitting surface 112 of the light source 110passes the microstructure 120 first and then passes through the lighttransmitting portion 13 a. Thus, the light is scattered by themicrostructure 120 and the uniformity of the light is enhanced when thelight passes through the light transmitting portion 13 a, and itprovides a better visual effect.

The microstructure 120 may be disposed on the light emitting surface 112of the light source 110 by bonding or hot-press. FIG. 2A to FIG. 2G areschematic diagrams showing the process for manufacturing microstructuresof the lighting module in an embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, firstly, a scroll wheel 20 isprovided, and a microstructure pattern 22 is processed on the scrollwheel 20. Then, a film 24 is provided, and a glue layer 26 is coated onthe film 24. The glue layer 26 is made of an ultraviolet glue, which isnot limited herein. As shown in FIG. 2C, the scroll wheel 20 is rolledon the glue layer 26 to transfer the microstructure pattern 22 on thescroll wheel 20 to the glue layer 26.

As shown in FIG. 2D, the glue layer 26 is irradiated by ultravioletlight to solidify the microstructure pattern 22 on the glue layer 26.Then, the glue layer 26 together with the film 24 is cut into a desiredsize (as shown in FIG. 2E). Finally, the film 24 is fixed to the lightemitting surface 112 of the light source 110 by the hot-press to formthe microstructure 120 (as shown in FIG. 2F), or by bonding the film 24to the light emitting surface 112 of the light source 110 via the gluelayer 26 (as shown in FIG. 2G) to form the microstructure 120, Thus, thelight from the light emitting surface 112 of the light source 110 passesthe microstructure 120 first and then passes through the lighttransmitting portion 13 a, and the uniformity of the light is enhanced.

FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D are schematic diagrams showing the process formanufacturing microstructures of the lighting module in anotherembodiment. Please refer to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, firstly, a mold 30 isprovided, and a microstructure pattern 32 is processed on the mold 30.Then, a glue layer 34 is coated on the light emitting surface 112 of thelight source 110, and the microstructure pattern 32 on the mold 30 isimprinted on the glue layer 34. The glue layer 34 is made of anultraviolet glue, which is not limited herein.

At last, the glue layer 34 on the light emitting surface 112 of thelight source 110 is irradiated by the ultraviolet light to make themicrostructure pattern 32 on the glue layer 34 solidified. In theembodiments, the microstructure 120 is formed and fixed to the lightemitting surface 112 of the light source 110, however, the way forforming the microstructure 120 and the position of the microstructure120 are not limited herein.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a lighting module applied to anelectronic device in another embodiment. Please refer to FIG. 4, themain difference between the lighting module 200 in FIG. 4 and thelighting module 100 in FIG. 1 is that the microstructure 220 in FIG. 4is at the bottom of the light transmitting portion 13 a while themicrostructure 120 in FIG. 1 is on the light emitting surface 112 of thelight source 110. The position of the microstructure 220 is not limitedherein as long as the light from the light emitting surface 212 of thelight source 210 passes the microstructure 220 first, and the light isscattered by the microstructure 220 and then passes through the lighttransmitting portion 13 a to enhance the uniformity of the light.

In addition, the lighting module is not limited to be applied to a keyof a light-emitting keyboard it may also be applied to indicators of anelectronic device, such as the power indicator on the host computer oron the display. The lighting module provides better light uniformity viathe configuration of the microstructure.

In summary, in order to make the light from the light emitting surfaceof the light source pass the microstructure first and then pass throughthe light transmitting portion, the microstructure is disposed betweenthe light emitting surface of the light source and the lighttransmitting portion (for example, the microstructure is formed on thelight emitting surface of the light source or at the bottom of the lighttransmitting portion). Consequently, the light is scattered by themicrostructure, and the uniformity of the light is enhanced. Thelighting module can be applied to the keys of the light-emittingkeyboard to make the keys with different sizes have similar brightness.In addition, the lighting module can also be used in indicators ofcommon electronic devices.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosureis not for limiting the scope. Persons having ordinary skill in the artmay make various modifications and changes without departing from thescope. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limitedto the description of the preferred embodiments described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighting module adapted to an electronicdevice, wherein the electronic device includes a light transmittingportion, the lighting module comprising: a light source disposed in theelectronic device, wherein the light source includes a light emittingsurface facing the light transmitting portion; and a microstructuredisposed between the light emitting surface of the light source and thelight transmitting portion.
 2. The lighting module according to claim 1,wherein the microstructure is disposed on the light emitting surface ofthe light source.
 3. The lighting module according to claim 1, whereinthe microstructure is disposed at a bottom of the light transmittingportion.
 4. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein theelectronic device further includes: a baseplate; a circuit boarddisposed on the baseplate; a keycap disposed on the circuit board,wherein the keycap includes the light transmitting portion, and anelastomer, disposed between the circuit board and the keycap.
 5. Thelighting module according to claim 4, wherein the light source iselectrically connected to the circuit board and disposed between thecircuit board and the keycap.
 6. The lighting module according to claim4, wherein the electronic device further includes a support structureconnected to the keycap and the baseplate to movably fix the keycap tothe baseplate.
 7. The lighting module according to claim 4, wherein thesupport structure includes a first support and a second support whichare crossed and pivotally connected.
 8. The lighting module according toclaim 4, wherein the circuit board includes a press part, the elastomeris disposed at a bottom of the keycap corresponding to the press part.9. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the microstructureis made of a light-transparent material.
 10. The lighting moduleaccording to claim 1, wherein the light source is a Light Emitting Diode(LED).